Sutherland Generating Station Unit 4

Sutherland Generating Station Unit 4 is a coal plant proposed by Interstate Power and Light Company, a subsidiary of Alliant Energy Corporation. The plant will be built in Marshalltown, Iowa.

The plant will utilize supercritical technology and be located next to the company’s Sutherland Generating Station, a natural gas-fired 140-MW plant. The plant is being designed so as to potentially allow some of the boilers to burn switchgrass and other biomass fuels. The company filed a siting application with the Iowa Utilities Board on July 2, 2007, and expects a decision in early 2008.

In October 22, 2007, Iowa Office of Consumer Advocate, a state agency, recommended that the plant be rejected in favor of more cost effective and environmentally sound alternatives. On Nov. 28, 2007, the Central Iowa Power Cooperative, the Corn Belt Power Cooperative, and the North Iowa Municipal Electric Cooperative Association signed a joint operating agreement with IPL.

In April 2008, the Iowa Utility Board approved the proposed coal-fired power plant. On May 15 2008, about 100 anti-coal protesters picketed outside Alliant Energy's annual shareholder meeting.

On August 26th, 2008 Iowa's Utility Board issued an order allowing Alliant Energy to build the plant. The board included provisions requiring the plant to generate a portion of its energy from biomass and renewable resources. The board also reserved the right of to require Alliant to install carbon capture technology if and when it becomes available.

On March 5, 2009 Interstate Power and Light Company announced that it was canceling the Sutherland plant. The company said the decision was based on a combination of factors, including the financial climate and concerns about the possibility of future regulation of greenhouse gas emissions.

Project Details
Sponsor: Interstate Power and Light Location: Marshalltown, Iowa Capacity: 600 MW Type: Supercritical Projected in service: 2013 Status: Cancelled

Financing

 * Citibank
 * Bank of America
 * JP Morgan Chase
 * Merrill Lynch
 * Wells Fargo

Citizen Groups

 * Plains Justice Carrie La Seur, claseur [at] plainsjustice.org
 * Community Energy Solutions
 * Iowa Chapter of Physicians for Social Responsibility
 * Iowa Farmers Union
 * Iowa Environmental Council
 * Iowa Renewable Energy Association
 * Sierra Club Iowa Chapter

Testimony

 * Petition to Intervene (drafted by Plains Justice on behalf of Coalition partners Community Energy Solutions, Iowa Chapter of Physicians for Social Responsibility, Iowa Farmers Union, Iowa Environmental Council, and Iowa Renewable Energy Association) (PDF file)
 * Testimony of Dr. James Hansen, Director of NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies (PDF file)
 * Testimony of Dr. Neil Harl, Professor Emeritus of Agriculture and Economics at Iowa State University (PDF file)
 * Testimony of Thomas Sanzillo, Senior Associate, TR Rose Associates, and Former First Deputy Comptroller for the State of New York (PDF file)
 * Testimony of Dr. Kristin Welker-Hood, Director of Environment and Health Programs, Physicians for Social Responsibility (PDF file)

Related SourceWatch Articles

 * Carbon Capture and Storage
 * Existing U.S. Coal Plants
 * US proposed coal plants (both active and cancelled)
 * Coal plants cancelled in 2007
 * Coal plants cancelled in 2008
 * Iowa and coal
 * State-by-state guide to information on coal in the United States (or click on the map)